So if any of you have been reading my other story than you know why this story is late if not then I apologize again for this late update. I sadly had to work the first few days of spring break, and was wondering why I felt off when I (my stupid body really) decided to get sick. So sorry about making you all wait. Please Enjoy.

Chapter 4

It had been a few weeks since leaving the last island and having eaten the 'lucky' dragon fruit. Nothing had resulted from his wish, and while disappointed at first, Ace had soon forgotten the entire incident as March rolled around.

It had only taken a few days for the crew to notice the absence of Marco's usual "March moodiness," as they had labeled it, and quickly nearly half the crew had gone to question Ace on what he had done. It went without saying that he hadn't told them anything, though Thatch's guesses had been pretty much on the mark, not that Ace would tell him that. However the change was a welcome one and soon everyone had quickly learned to enjoy it.

However things on the Grand Line could never be expected to stay perfect.

It was nearly half way through March when Ace woke feeling 'off.' This was after noting that Marco's side of the bed had long gone cold, which wasn't that unusual, except that Marco never woke early for any reason during mating season. Automatically assuming the worst Ace made to quickly get out of bed, when he noted the oddness he had woken up feeling was more prevalent when he moved. Turning to exam his surroundings and noting nothing out of place, he quickly switched to listening to the noises of the ship, still nothing.

"Odd. What is this feeling?" Scratching his head in contemplation he noted that he'd have to trim his nails soon by their sharpness, and then pulling his arm down to look at his hand. Upon seeing them for the first time that day he screamed.

When Marco woke early that morning he had woken feeling oddly contented and energetic. Chalking it all up to his and Ace's activities the previous night, he pulled himself from the bed with a smile. Getting up and dressing quickly, and then placing a quick kiss on Ace's temple, he left their room to head above deck to start the day.

He couldn't remember a March day in years where he had been out of bed before 10, and was quickly met with odd stares as he made his way through the dinning hall. Thatch had quickly taken to joking about his and Ace's relationship. Commenting on how 'getting laid' was obviously good for him, among other things. Marco, who was used to Thatch's teasing by now, quickly ignored his best friends comments and set about eating his breakfast and having his first cup of coffee for the day.

Marco was just finishing his second cup of coffee and preparing to head to his office when he heard the scream. Everyone in the dining hall stopped to try and figure out what they'd heard, but Marco knew that voice all too well and had transformed and been out the door before anyone could say anything more. When he arrived at Ace's and his bedroom he had nearly broken the door down in his mad dash to get through the door, but once he looked inside he stopped before he could ask what was wrong. And he could only stare.

Inside sitting on the floor was definitely a crying Ace, but barely recognizable. Everything was almost the same, but now he looked like a Zoan of some kind. Ace's face was untouched, save for the ebony scales that disappeared into his hairline leading to two small boney horns. His neck was covered in the same scales, and the disappeared around his collarbones, but reappeared on his forearms and thighs. Walking a little closer Marco also noted that the scaled seemed to fall down Ace's spine leading to what was in all sense of the word a tail, and on his hands were the beginnings of claw. His ears seemed to have also become slightly pointed at their tops. And as much as the change should have scared him, the only thoughts he could form were on how good the changes looked on Ace.

Then the other commanders arrived, and Marco took noted that his lover was still naked from their previous night. Jealousy lacing his system he quickly pulled the blanket off the bed to cover his mate, turning to growl at the other men for staring at what he considered his.

However no one else seemed to take note of Ace's nakedness, instead the others could only gawk at the changes that had happened to their younger brother. Thatch as always was the first to find his voice and clearly stated what they all were thinking, "What the fuck happened to you?"

Ace only continued to cry.

Now dressed, a hole newly made hole in an older pair of his shorts, Ace sat with the other commanders in what was the Commanders meeting room. Whitebeard sat in his usual chair surrounded by his commanding son's, and looking down at Ace in a slightly confused manner.

"So Ace, can you tell us anything about this," he tried to look for the right word, and finding one he liked he continued, "change?"

Ace could only shake his head, as he had finally seemed to calm down from his highly panicked state, but now was in mild shock at the changes that had occurred to his body.

Nodding his head in slight understanding, Whitebeard turned to Marco with the same question.

Marco was looking at his love in concern, but turned to answer Whitebeards question. "No yoi. He was fine last night." Thinking harder about everything that had occurred in the last few hours, he continued, "I also didn't notice anything different this morning."

Again Whitebeard nodded, now turning to the rest of his Commanders, all of whom were staring with everything from shock to apprehension. Thatch was the only one whose face was thoughtful, and at feeling his captains gaze upon him he began talking, "I didn't see anything last night," then he seemed thoughtful again, "but maybe it has something to do with how Marco acted this morning?"

All of those present turned to Marco at that point.

Marco looked thoughtful for a second, thinking about what Thatch had said. It was true that, that morning he had felt significantly better than he had in a long time, and not just during his annual sulk-fest. Considering this he tried listening to his inner Phoenix for a minute, before turning away from the wide array of confusing feelings he was receiving. Shaking his head in a 'I don't know manner,' the others just sighed in defeat.

However it was Ace talking for the first time that morning that had them all looking up and towards the transformed Second Division Commander.

"I think I may know what happened."

"You do?" Was all the others could say.

"Yeah, you all remember when I ate that funny colored dragon fruit and I was told I could make a wish."

Thinking back they all nodded.

"Well that night Marco and I were talking and I wished to be a dragon."

The others only looked at him confused.

"Well I actually wished to be a mythical dragon Zoan."

Considering this for a moment, the other Commanders just groaned at their little brothers stupidity. Then Whitebeard began to laugh. And having seemingly solved at least part of the mystery he dismissed the other Commanders so he could talk with Ace and Marco.

The second the door closed Marco turned to Ace in pure anger. He remembered that night well, as it was the night Ace had sworn to Marco to never do something to endanger himself again.

"Ace you swore you wouldn't do this kind of shit anymore. Do you know how scared I was when I heard you scream? When I saw what had happened to you?"

"Marco I never thought my wish would actually be granted. I didn't mean to scare you." He replied soothingly.

"Well why would you make a wish like that in the first place? I thought you were happy with your devil fruit why change it? I swear sometimes you do this stuff just to try and give me a heart attack." Marco was not going to calm down easily and he glared at Ace waiting for him to answer the question. Whitebeard interjected at this point, having watched the shouting unfold, "I am also curious why you'd make such a wish Ace?"

Head down in shame and slight embarrassment, it was a few minutes before he lifted his head and finally spoke up.

"I promised Marco I'd never leave him, and then I thought about the wish and I thought to myself that if I could have any wish granted it would be that I never leave him and then I thought that if I could turn into a dragon like that legend of the fruit said then I might be able to stay with him forever, cause we'd both be mythical Zoan's." Looking down again in shame he added, "I know it's stupid, but I didn't think that my wish would come true. It just seemed like a good idea to wish that at the time."

Both of the older men were silent upon hearing Ace's reason.

Then Marco let out a sigh before gathering his mate into his lap and holding him there as he spoke, "No Ace it wasn't a stupid wish. You could have wished for anything and you made a wish to make me happy. This is all my fault. I'm sorry for yelling."

Hugging Marco back, Ace just nodded, not wanting to fight over whose fault it was. Smiling Whitebeard watched the two happily. He could not be more grateful for whatever miracle it had been that brought Ace to his crew, and by that into Marco's life. Noting however the passing morning, he decided to discuss their new dilemma with the two at the center of it.

"Well it seems that like it or not Ace has acquired a new ability, and one he doesn't know how to control. We are currently in route to a bountiful uninhabited island. We won't be there for another week or so, but it may be in the ships best interest if you two head the island a few days early. Ace can you still use your flame?"

Looking down at his hand and concentrating Ace was has happy to note that he still seemed to have his known powers. Nodding at him Whitebeard continued, "Then I suggest you two pack and either Marco can carry you two and your belonging's or Ace you can take your striker to the island. Marco you're going to need to help him get his powers under control the best you can before the Moby Dick makes landfall in that time."

Nodding their heads in understanding, the two quickly left to do as they were told.

Dun-dun-duh. So what do you all think? I personally think Ace would look amazing with scales, but obviously that could just be me and Marco. So please review.